Pakistan Railways declares emergency until Dec 31 after 55+ train accidents

Pakistan Railways has declared a three-month operational emergency across the network after more than 55 passenger and freight train accidents and derailments since January 1, 2026. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi ordered the measure, which took effect on Saturday, October 24, and runs until December 31. Officers' leave has been cancelled and engineers must report daily to the ministry. The aim is to fix the track, rolling stock and signalling faults behind the rise in crashes.

What the emergency means

The emergency does not stop any train services. Instead, it puts the railway's staff on a crisis footing. Abbasi said it will stay in place until faults in passenger coaches, freight wagons, locomotives, signalling systems and other infrastructure have been dealt with.

Measure	What it requires
Duration	October 24 – December 31, 2026 (about three months)
Leave	All leave suspended except medical leave
Weekends and holidays	Cancelled for field officers, including senior officials
Field checks	Officers must inspect train operations on site, including on Sundays
Official travel	Officers going to other cities on duty must travel by train
Reporting	Chief civil and chief mechanical engineers send daily progress reports to the ministry
Safety	Head of the safety department gives daily updates

On Sunday, the first full day of the emergency, field officers visited stations, yards and sections of track to check train operations and safety arrangements.

Why it was declared

Railway records show more than 55 accidents and derailments involving passenger and freight trains since the start of the year. In July alone there were seven. The Sukkur, Karachi and Multan divisions have been hit hardest. Freight trains have come off the rails near Khanpur, Khairpur and Kotri, and the Pakistan Express derailed near Kharian.

The most serious recent crash came on October 13. All 14 carriages of the Karachi-to-Peshawar Rehman Baba Express left the track at about 5:15 am near Sher Shah station outside Multan, and several overturned. Officials confirmed at least four deaths, and rescue officials put the toll at five. Dozens of passengers were injured and taken to Nishtar Hospital in Multan. The driver said the train was running at about 100 km/h. The Federal Government Inspector of Railways is investigating the cause.

The ministry's own review names these main factors behind the accidents:

• deteriorating and worn-out track
• defective coaches and freight wagons
• a manual points (track-switching) system on many sections
• human error by staff
• inadequate maintenance and shortages of money and equipment

Background

Pakistan's railway network dates largely from the colonial era. Its main line, ML-1, runs about 1,700 km from Karachi to Peshawar and carries most passenger and freight traffic. Years of under-investment have left long stretches of track in poor condition. Many signals and points are still worked by hand, and much of the coach and wagon fleet is overdue for replacement.

The government has repeatedly promised to upgrade ML-1, and plans to start work in January 2027 on the roughly $2.5 billion Karachi–Rohri section. Railway engineers have identified the deteriorated track on this stretch as one of the biggest safety risks on the network.

Reactions

Abbasi has rejected calls to resign over the Multan derailment. He said the accident must be investigated first, and that the Rehman Baba Express had received mechanical checks at Samasatta Junction before the crash. President Asif Ali Zardari called for a transparent inquiry into the causes. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered faster rescue work and the best medical care for the injured.

The open question is whether an administrative emergency can fix problems that need years of investment. Earlier promises of track renewal and new coaches have repeatedly slipped.

Why it matters

Millions of Pakistanis use trains every year, especially low-income families travelling long distances between Karachi, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, because rail is far cheaper than flying. Freight trains also move fuel, wheat, cement and containers from Karachi's ports. Every derailment costs lives, closes the main line for hours or days, and pushes more cargo onto already crowded highways.

The emergency is a test of whether the ministry can cut accidents quickly through tighter supervision, daily reporting and repairs, while bigger projects such as the ML-1 upgrade are still years away.

What happens next

The emergency runs until December 31. The ministry will receive daily reports from engineers and the safety department, and is expected to review progress before deciding whether to extend it. The inquiry report into the Rehman Baba Express derailment is also awaited. Its findings on whether the cause was track, coaches, speed or human error will show where the railway most urgently needs to spend money.

For passengers, nothing changes in booking or timetables. Pakistan Railways says services continue as normal.